“Herb’s got a dream that people are going to come back to typewriters.”
Did you hear the one about Tom Hanks, John Mayer and Sam Shepard? Yes another Revenge of Analog documentary that’s just your type.
Last night I checked out California Typewriter a documentary on the spry resurgence of typewriters…the overlooked tool between the pen/notebook and the laptop.
That there’s a digital fatigue prompting this triumphant return like vinyl and film makes sense.
Analog is a broader more holistic experience…a kid in kindergarten will play in the sand, with blocks, will get dirty…an adult goes on a trip and just sees things. Play is different as you age.
The creative aspects however were startling…John Mayer who I’ve rolled my eyes dismissed him spoke eloquently; turns out his mind is a wonderland.
(Following the screening a few of us went out for adult beverages and much of the topic was dominated by Mayer’s strangely insightful utterances.)
Tom Hanks, Sam Shepard, Edward Ruscha, Jeremy Mayer and Culture Snap Photography’s friend Martin Howard are in the doc. Ch-ch-check it out.
Bonus fun?
California Typewriter’s director Doug Nichol visited My Summer Lair. Did you know Doug has a fresh history with music videos? He worked with New Kids on the Block for example directing the Hangin’ Tough music video.
Doug and I discuss how the boy band phenomenon mirrors the journey of typewriters—both experiencing peaks, declines, and resurgences in popularity. In pop culture everything is always dying yet nothing ever dies.
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Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair podcast: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
